Twelve rounds into his highly anticipated debut season with Scuderia Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton finds himself grappling with a difficult reality that stands in stark contrast to the immense expectations that accompanied his move from Mercedes to Maranello. The transition, which many hoped would spark a new era of success for the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, has instead resulted in one of the most underwhelming starts to a season in his illustrious career.
Prior to donning the iconic red overalls of Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton had never endured a season in which he failed to claim at least one podium finish in the first 10 Grands Prix. Yet, in 2025, the 40-year-old British racing driver from Stevenage has been unable to deliver the top-three results that the passionate Tifosi had envisioned. His best finishes to date have been a trio of fourth-place results, which came at the Imola Grand Prix, the Austrian Grand Prix, and his home race at Silverstone during the British Grand Prix.
Perhaps even more striking is that Hamilton has, for the first time since the introduction of the current Formula 1 points-scoring system in 2010, failed to surpass the 100-point mark after 12 rounds. As the sport heads into the Belgian Grand Prix weekend scheduled for July 25–27 at Spa-Francorchamps, Lewis Hamilton currently sits sixth in the FIA Formula One World Championship standings with just 103 points. This total includes 14 points earned from Sprint events, thanks to his Sprint race victory in China and a third-place finish in the Miami Sprint.
The 2025 Formula 1 season was widely believed to be a genuine title opportunity for Ferrari, especially with Lewis Hamilton joining forces with Charles Leclerc. However, as the campaign reaches its midway point, hopes of a championship challenge are quickly fading. Ferrari remain without a Grand Prix win, and Hamilton’s performance has not lived up to the lofty standards that accompanied his arrival at Maranello.
Multiple internal factors have reportedly contributed to Hamilton’s underperformance since leaving Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team for Scuderia Ferrari. While Lewis Hamilton’s determination to capture a record-breaking eighth world title remains as fierce as ever, his ability to fully adapt to Ferrari’s operational structure, car characteristics, and internal communication methods has proven more challenging than anticipated.
The British driver has, according to insiders, requested procedural changes within the Ferrari camp. Despite his 104 pole positions and 105 Grand Prix victories, Lewis Hamilton has struggled to acclimate to Ferrari’s distinct technical language, engineering feedback systems, and the unique handling traits of the SF-25 car. Notably, issues with the power steering system have affected Hamilton’s braking confidence, due to a slight delay in steering input response—a feature that differs significantly from what he experienced at Mercedes.
According to a report from Formula1.it, unnamed insiders within the paddock have privately expressed concerns about Hamilton’s ability to overcome these obstacles. The report claims that several individuals close to the situation feel that the 202-time podium finisher does not yet appear capable of resolving the performance gap caused by his ongoing adaptation struggles. Some even describe Lewis Hamilton as appearing “overwhelmed” by the challenge of competing in Ferrari’s uniquely demanding environment, particularly given the legacy and pressure that comes with racing for Formula 1’s most iconic team.
Lewis Hamilton himself has openly acknowledged the difficulties he has faced in adapting to the SF-25 chassis and to the culture within Scuderia Ferrari. While such an adjustment period is not uncommon when switching teams—especially after more than a decade with the same outfit—the extended timeframe required by statistically the most successful driver in the history of Formula 1 has triggered growing unease among fans and insiders alike.
Ferrari, however, hope that a technical upgrade planned for the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix could offer the breakthrough that both the team and Hamilton desperately need. The team plans to introduce a revised rear suspension system designed to improve the car’s ride-height sensitivity and overall stability—a persistent issue that has made the SF-25 unpredictable at the rear, particularly under braking and acceleration.
Ferrari’s simulation data reportedly indicates that the new suspension could yield an improvement of up to one tenth of a second per lap. While that margin may appear small, it is considered significant in today’s hyper-competitive field, where minor performance gains can dramatically alter qualifying positions and race outcomes.
For example, had Lewis Hamilton been able to extract just a tenth of a second more from his SF-25 during Q3 at the British Grand Prix, he could have secured second position on the grid instead of fifth. Hamilton recorded a lap time of 1:25.095, but an issue with Ferrari’s Q3 engine mode reportedly cost him valuable time. In contrast, McLaren driver Oscar Piastri set a 1:24.995 lap to take P2, highlighting how even minor deficits can result in major grid penalties.
As the 2025 Formula 1 calendar enters its crucial second half, Ferrari’s hopes of climbing back into championship contention may now rest on the success of their technical upgrades and Hamilton’s ability to adapt more fully to his new surroundings. For a team chasing its first title in over a decade, and a driver chasing history, the pressure to deliver is higher than ever.
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